So I almost joined a cult….
Welcome to our very first story share! Every Thursday, we’ll bring you workplace tales that will make you laugh, cringe, or question humanity entirely. Enjoy!
So I Almost Joined A Cult
An employee writes…
Several years ago, I was job hunting and starting to get a little desperate. I lived in a rural area where the pay wasn’t usually great, so when I saw an administrative assistant position at a healthcare facility, I thought it would be a good way to get my foot in the door. I was really excited when they called me in for an in-person interview.
The facility was about a 45-minute drive into the desert, and for the area, the pay was actually really good. When I arrived, it looked more like a large ranch-style home than a medical building - but it was beautiful and well-maintained. Everyone I met was super friendly, almost like we’ve all been longtime friends. The only odd thing I noticed? Their name tags. Every single one had bizarre capitalization - like ElizABetH or AleXaNdEr. Strange, but hey, to each their own.
The interviewer very enthusiastically greeted me when I arrived as if I were a VIP or someone super important. She stood about two feet from my face the entire time while smiling nonstop. She showed me the desk where I’d sit and explained the job, then casually mentioned that I could change my name too - though it “wasn’t required.” Ummm… okay?
I asked what was nearby since the place felt so far from everything. She told me there was a “residential commune” close by where most employees lived. There was a space available for me to live there as well, but that also wasn’t required. That’s when my red flags started popping up.
When we finished, she walked me outside and asked if she could take my photo. I said sure, thinking maybe it was for HR. But then she pulled a large, professional-grade camera out of her bag and told me to stand against a wall. There I was, awkwardly smiling while she snapped multiple photos - mind you, I hadn’t even been offered the job yet!
By then, my inner voice was screaming at me to leave. She asked me to come back the next day to start - no paperwork, no official offer - and I agreed just to wrap things up and get out of there. Back in town, I told a friend about it. She was shocked: “Wait… you interviewed with the cult outside of town?!”
It hit me like a ton of bricks - I had no idea! I looked them up, and sure enough, they openly identified as a cult that recruited through job postings. Needless to say, I did not go back. The next day, the interviewer left me a voicemail assuring me - completely unprompted - that they were “definitely not a cult.”
